Flight Options: Fractional share sales, jet membership are upThe Cleveland, Ohio-based fractional share provider Flight Options reported a 70% increase in "conquest growth" -- shares sold to buyers who have quit other programs. The company also said jet membership program sales are up 30% year over year. "We're definitely seeing a significant increase in hours flown and customer utilization," said Matt Doyle, executive vice president of sales and marketing. AIN Online
(2/21)

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Aviation Update

Looming sequestration could affect ATC facilitiesIf Congress is unable to avoid looming federal budget cuts, the Federal Aviation Administration will be faced with a $627 million reduction in its budget, said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said cuts of 8.2% could mean the furloughing of up to 2,200 workers. AIN Online
(2/21)

Tower closings, flight delays seen from "sequester" cuts: The Federal Aviation Administration has said it would close 60 airport control towers during midnight shifts, shut down more than 100 towers completely at airports with fewer than 150,000 flight operations per year, and begin furloughing staff under mandatory budget cuts set to start taking effect March 1. AOPA Online.

Chinese investors offer bid for Akoya LSA amphibLISA Airplanes, the French manufacturer of the amphibious Akoya light sport aircraft came into financial difficulty in August. The Heima Mining Co. of China has offered a $20 million takeover bid, which LISA says it will accept. Heima Mining has 10 orders for the $350,000 Akoya and plans to seek additional acquisitions in the aviation industry. AVweb
(2/21)

Cirrus CAPS repacks are pricey upkeepsThe CAPS parachute system is the ultimate safety backup for many Cirrus owners, but the 10-year, $10,000 repack cycle is coming up on many older airframes. It can only be done in specialized service centers and, on first generation models, it requires tearing off and then repairing the fiberglass parachute hatch. AVweb
(2/21)

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Helicopter News

Calif. city endorses helicopter noise billTorrance Municipal Airport is located nearby Lomita, Calif., and is the home of the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. City Manager Michael Rock says that council members get phone calls every day regarding the noise. The Lomita City Council voted unanimously to endorse the two congressional bills that aim to reduce helicopter noise. Daily Breeze (Torrance, Calif.)
(2/21)

Avionics & Technology

Composite construction makes kit plane assembly simpleThe simple composite construction of Lancair's Evolution means that builders can meet the 51% rule after just a few months of work. Lancair COO Tom Bowen says that the Evolution has only 12,000 line items, and all parts, pieces and tools are clearly marked for the builder -- no additional tools are needed. Flying online
(2/21)

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Alliance for Aviation Across America

GA provides jobs, contributes to trade balanceIn a conversation with Steve Anderson, managing director of InfrastructureUSA, Alliance for Aviation Across America Executive Director Selena Shilad said that the general aviation industry is responsible for some 1.2 million jobs and $150 billion economic impact in the U.S. "It's one of the only manufacturing industries that contributes positively to the balance of U.S. trade," she said. InfrastructureUSA.org
(2/20)

Policy Watch

Group proposes revisions to TSA's GA airport security guidelinesA working group of representatives from various general aviation organizations submitted a list of potential revisions to the Transportation Security Administration's security guidance for GA airports. "We're largely talking about tweaks to the existing guidelines, rather than wholesale changes," said Doug Carr of the National Business Aviation Association. AIN Online
(2/21)

AOPA News

General aviation defended against "loophole" chargeSenate Finance Committee member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) voiced exasperation with the Obama administration for "seemingly endless attacks" on the aviation industry in public statements and proposals to reduce the federal deficit. The GA Caucus member said Feb. 13 during a hearing that he gets "a little bit hot under the collar" when he hears administration officials direct attacks at the largely Kansas-based industry that has already lost 50 percent of its workforce during difficult economic times. AOPA Online.

Was aviation designated a "loser" under tax reform?During a press briefing Feb. 20, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney cast deficit-reduction proposals targeting general aviation as preferable to other budget cuts during efforts to reduce the federal deficit. Friends of general aviation in Congress are sticking up for the industry. AOPA Online.

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With a membership base of more than 400,000, AOPA is the largest, most influential aviation association in the world. AOPA has achieved its prominent position
through effective advocacy, enlightened leadership, technical competence, and hard work. Providing member services that range from representation at the federal, state, and local levels to legal services,
advice, and other assistance, AOPA has built a service organization that far exceeds any other in the aviation community.